Install-Drywall-Ceiling
Install-Drywall-Ceiling Tips and Techniques
If your putting drywall on a ceiling there's a
good chance you've probably just remodeled a room or had major water
damage. The expense of the drywall itself isn't bad it's the labor of
installation and more so, the finishing of drywall that can get
expensive. I've got a solution for you though...
Install it yourself!
The hardest part of putting drywall on the
ceiling is holding it in place while it's secured with screws.
If you've got a partner, not a big deal but what if you're working
alone? Well, with the right tools you can actually do it yourself if
that's what you're faced with. I installed drywall on the ceiling of my
addition (a little more than 200sqft) by myself using a drywall jack.
The type of drywall you will use depends on the application.
If you are doing a bathroom, you may need a moisture resistant or even
a cement board to ensure you don't develop a moisture/mold problem
down the road. If you're doing a downstairs, you may want to consider
a soundproofing drywall to dampen the noise from above. To learn more
about types of drywall, check out my DIY-Drywall
page.
Before we get started install-drywall-ceiling,
check out the...
drywall-tools
page to what tools you'll need to complete this project.
Install-Drywall-Ceiling
Steps
-
Determining how many sheets you
need is easy, simply find the area of the ceiling by
measuring the length x the width. Once you have the square footage, you
can figure how much drywall you'll need. Use the area of the largest
sheet possible when figuring... that will reduce the
number of joints that have to be finished saving you time and money.
Standard sizes are 4x8 ft or 4x12 ft sheets... but you can find it in
10 ft or 14 ft lengths as well. Since rooms are unpredictable in their
size, I like to draw a room out on some graph paper to see how my
pieces will fit. Here's how this room was figured: 18 x 11 = 198sqft --
4 x 8 (sheet) = 32sqft -- 198 / 32 = 6.19 or 7 sheets.
-
Prepare the surface
If you're simply replacing some old drywall, check for old screws that
were not removed during the demolition phase. If you're
install-drywall-ceiling in a new addition, check to make sure the
surface is level with the existing ceiling so that you'll have a smooth
transition from new to old. One way to do this is to run a chalkline
across the existing ceiling to a far wall along a ceiling joist. Check
the distance between the line and the joist at different locations from
near the old ceiling to the opposite wall. A better way is with a 360
degree laser level. If you've got a slight slope it's easy to rip 2-by
material and fur it in so that the ceiling will transition in nicely.
If you're doing a basement, you may need to build a sofit around
ductwork or other obstructions.
 -
Mark Fixture Locations
Always mark the location of fixtures before Install-Drywall-Ceiling.
Since I use a drywall rotary tool, I'll cut-out the fixture once the
board is hung in place. Here's how: Measure from two walls to the
center of the fixture making note of the measurements, then transfer
that measurement to the drywall board you're about to hang. Make an
"X" in the center. Once the board has been hung, you punch through
the drywall at that location. Then using the fixture as it's own
template, cutout the hole it needs to be exposed.
-
 Begin
install-drywall-ceiling
by placing the first sheet in the corner of the room. I'll run my
sheets perpendicular to the ceiling joist (more than likely anyway).
If you're working alone, a drywall jack makes easy work of hanging
drywall. If you have a partner, make a couple "T" sticks that can be
used to "prop-up" the drywall while you both screw it in place.
Once the piece is in place, cut out the fixtures that were marked in
the
previous step. Then continue with the rest of the room.
- Partial Sheets are
needed when a full sheet won't fit. Cutting sheets down to size is
easy with a drywall "T" square. Simply hook the tool on the edge of
the sheet and run your razor knife along the edge of the square. The
razor knife cuts the outer layer of the drywall. Once you've made
your cut, the drywall is easily snapped along the cut. Now you
can cut through the opposite layer of drywall paper to complete the cut.
- Securing drywall
when you install-drywall-ceiling is easy if you use a
Drywall-Screw-Driver.
You could use a variable speed drill if you're job is a small one. Just
be carefull not to drive the screws too deep into the drywall. A
drywall
screw driver drives the screw to a pre-determined depth which is just
below the surface without breaking the outer layer of paper making it
easy to finish by filling the small hole with drywall mud. Place screws
approx 6-8 inches apart on the outer edges and about 12 inches apart on
the inner portion of the sheet.
|
